HEAD OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS & FINANCE, AMERICAS REGION

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people.

The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

About the position

The Business Operations and Finance department will provide high-quality support to research and other global functions across Finance, Procurement, Facilities Management, Security, and Administration services. Reporting to the Global Director of Business Operations & Finance and with the second line of supervision with the Regional Managing Director to ensure a harmonized vision on decentralization and complementarity vis-a-vis delegation of authority. The Head of BO&F(HBOF) for the Americas is responsible for effectively overseeing the ongoing development and execution of an integrated approach to all aspects of financial and business operations management in the Region to meet the organization’s needs and ensure a high level of effectiveness and efficiencies. Responsible for coordinating administrative and financial matters between the Region and Global Units, providing management and operational support to the projects to be implemented in the Region, and securing full compliance with local laws, policies, and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead finance and administration functions in the Region, providing operations support and oversight of day-to-day activities in all the offices.
• Oversee the development and delivery of efficient, service-oriented, and cost-effective business operations in procurement, facilities, administrative and security services for the offices located in the Region.
• Implement an effective operation framework of internal financial controls in the Region to mitigate organizational risk and ensure that internal and external audit requirements are satisfied, together with full compliance with local laws.
• Champion initiatives led or promoted by the Regional MD while securing accurate implementation of all the guidelines, processes, procedures, and policies mandated by the global finance and operations functional units.
• Secure the required structure in place to provide highlevel quality business operations and finance services in all the Region offices, expand capabilities, promote innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Build strong engagement with Research and Global and Regional support functions to seek synergies and processes to deliver high-quality business operations and financial services.
• Advise, provide insights and guide Country Representatives and Country Finance and Administration staff, in all areas of Business Operations and Finance.
• Establish a strong relationship with other external stakeholders, like hosted entities and other Centers, securing the necessary support services for them.
• Set the rolling work plan to ensure compliance with all relevant national and international laws, license-to-operate requirements, and funder agreements, working closely with other global functional units.
• Establish quality and service delivery metrics to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the Business Operations and Finance services provided in the Region, anticipate and propose corrective actions to increase the level of satisfaction from the Research levers/units.
• Identify improvement opportunities and propose corrective actions, aligned with current guidelines from the Global Finance Units and propose cross-cutting actions with other Regions to collaborate in standardizing services in the organization.

Qualifications and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in business administration, finance, economics, accounting, or related fields, with CPA/ACA, preferred.
• A demonstrated track record of extensive experience leading a Finance and/or Operations, with extensive evidence of overseeing financial management and operations in a range of large, multicultural, and geographically dispersed global organizations.
• Attention to detail and ability to provide complex technical information while creating a narrative that allows an understanding by a non-specialist audience.
• A robust understanding of the international development sector, funder requirements, and the political and economic environment, and demonstrated ability to navigate it strategically – experience in a scientific research organization.
• Proven ability to integrate, inspire and develop multidisciplinary teams and manage talent, with a strong commitment to promoting diversity, knowledge sharing, and staff development.
• Understanding of change management, implementing change, and the knowledge and experience to successfully support people through change.
• Proven ability to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of a transformational strategy through collaboration with others.
• Leadership skills, and ability to delegate responsibilities while maintaining supervisory control of operations and financial management
• Uphold the highest ethical standards by inspiring trust and treating all people with respect and personal integrity.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in Spanish and English languages, with the ability to communicate with all levels of the organization

Terms of employment

This is an internationally recruited position, and it will be based in Cali, Colombia. The initial contract will be for up to two (2) years, subject to a probation period of six (6) months, and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources. This position is graded at level BG12 (on a scale of 14 levels, BG14 being the highest level).

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits. We are an equal opportunity employer, and strive for gender, diversity, and inclusion in our staff, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic.